====== lìqi: 力气 - Physical Strength, Effort ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** lìqi, 力气, liqi meaning, Chinese word for strength, physical strength in Chinese, how to say effort in Chinese, no energy in Chinese, tired in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary
  *   **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **力气 (lìqi)**, which means "physical strength" or "effort." This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage for beginner learners. Discover how to use **力气 (lìqi)** to talk about being strong, feeling tired, or putting effort into a task, with 10 practical example sentences. Understand the key difference between **力气 (lìqi)** (physical power) and other Chinese words for strength, like `力量 (lìliàng)` or `坚强 (jiānqiáng)`, to avoid common mistakes.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lìqi
  *   **Part of Speech:** Noun
  *   **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  *   **Concise Definition:** The physical power of the body; muscular strength or energy.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** **力气 (lìqi)** is the word for the raw, physical "oomph" you use every day. Think of the strength needed to lift a heavy box, open a tight jar, or the energy you've run out of after a long hike. It's almost always about the body's physical capacity, not about mental or emotional strength. If you're feeling weak, tired, or exhausted, you can say you "don't have 力气."
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **力 (lì):** This character is a pictograph of an ancient plow, but it's easier for learners to imagine it as a person flexing their arm muscle. It directly means "power," "force," or "strength."
  *   **气 (qì):** This character originally showed steam or vapor (气) rising from cooking rice (米). It means "air," "gas," or, more abstractly, "vital energy" or "spirit."
  *   Together, **力气 (lìqi)** combines "physical power" (力) with "vital energy" (气). This fusion creates the specific meaning of tangible, usable physical strength—the energy that fuels your muscles.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **力气 (lìqi)** doesn't carry deep philosophical weight like `道 (dào)`, it's fundamental to understanding daily life and a pragmatic, hard-working cultural mindset.
In Chinese culture, physical labor (`体力活 tǐlìhuó`) and the effort one puts into it (`出力气 chū lìqi`) are highly visible and often respected concepts. **力气 (lìqi)** is the resource that fuels this work.
A key cultural comparison is with the English word "strength." In English, "strength" is a very broad term. We can say "strength of character," "mental strength," or "the strength of our economy." **力气 (lìqi)** is much narrower and almost exclusively refers to **physical strength**. A Chinese person would never use **力气 (lìqi)** to describe someone's strong willpower. This distinction is crucial for learners to grasp. Using **力气 (lìqi)** correctly shows you understand that different kinds of "strength" are separate concepts in Chinese.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**力气 (lìqi)** is an extremely common, everyday word used in informal and neutral contexts.
  *   **Complimenting someone's strength:** You'll often hear people exclaim "你力气真大! (Nǐ lìqi zhēn dà!)" - "You're so strong!" when someone lifts something heavy with ease.
  *   **Expressing exhaustion:** A very common complaint after a long day of work or exercise is "我没力气了 (Wǒ méi lìqi le)" - "I have no strength/energy left." It's the physical feeling of being completely spent.
  *   **Describing effort:** You can use it to talk about the physical effort required for a task. For example, "开这个瓶子需要很大的力气 (Kāi zhège píngzi xūyào hěn dà de lìqi)" - "Opening this bottle requires a lot of strength."
  *   **Telling someone not to waste effort:** "别白费力气了 (Bié báifèi lìqi le)" means "Don't waste your energy/effort," often said when a task is impossible or pointless.
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   他**力气**很大，一个人就能搬动那个沙发。
    *   Pinyin: Tā **lìqi** hěn dà, yí ge rén jiù néng bāndòng nàge shāfā.
    *   English: He's very strong; he can move that sofa all by himself.
    *   Analysis: A classic example of using `力气大 (lìqi dà)` to mean "strong." This is a common compliment.
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   我今天太累了，一点儿**力气**都没有了。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, yìdiǎnr **lìqi** dōu méiyǒu le.
    *   English: I'm so tired today, I don't have a bit of strength left.
    *   Analysis: `没力气 (méi lìqi)` is a key phrase for expressing physical exhaustion. The `一点儿都...没... (yìdiǎnr dōu...méi...)` structure emphasizes the complete lack of energy.
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   你再用点儿**力气**，这个盖子就能打开了。
    *   Pinyin: Nǐ zài yòng diǎnr **lìqi**, zhège gàizi jiù néng dǎkāi le.
    *   English: Use a little more strength, and you'll be able to open this lid.
    *   Analysis: Here, `用力气 (yòng lìqi)` means "to use/exert strength." It's a direct command or suggestion to apply more physical force.
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   别白费**力气**了，门已经锁上了。
    *   Pinyin: Bié báifèi **lìqi** le, mén yǐjīng suǒ shàng le.
    *   English: Don't waste your effort, the door is already locked.
    *   Analysis: `白费力气 (báifèi lìqi)` is a set phrase meaning "to waste effort in vain." `白 (bái)` here means "in vain" or "for nothing."
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   这个工作不怎么需要**力气**，但是很需要耐心。
    *   Pinyin: Zhège gōngzuò bù zěnme xūyào **lìqi**, dànshì hěn xūyào nàixīn.
    *   English: This job doesn't require much physical strength, but it requires a lot of patience.
    *   Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the distinction between physical strength (`力气`) and a mental attribute (`耐心`, patience).
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   她病得很重，连说话的**力气**都没有。
    *   Pinyin: Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, lián shuōhuà de **lìqi** dōu méiyǒu.
    *   English: She is very sick, she doesn't even have the strength to speak.
    *   Analysis: The `连...都... (lián...dōu...)` structure is used for emphasis, meaning "even...". It highlights how profoundly weak she is.
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   为了养家，他每天都在工地出**力气**。
    *   Pinyin: Wèile yǎngjiā, tā měitiān dōu zài gōngdì chū **lìqi**.
    *   English: To support his family, he does hard physical labor on the construction site every day.
    *   Analysis: `出力气 (chū lìqi)` is a common verb-object phrase meaning "to exert physical effort" or "to do manual labor."
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   我们得省点儿**力气**，因为还要走很远的路。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒmen děi shěng diǎnr **lìqi**, yīnwèi hái yào zǒu hěn yuǎn de lù.
    *   English: We have to save some energy, because we still have a long way to walk.
    *   Analysis: `省力气 (shěng lìqi)` means "to save strength/energy," a useful phrase for hiking, sports, or any long physical task.
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   虽然他个子小，但是**力气**不小。
    *   Pinyin: Suīrán tā gèzi xiǎo, dànshì **lìqi** bù xiǎo.
    *   English: Although he is small, he is quite strong (his strength is not small).
    *   Analysis: A great example of contrast using `虽然...但是... (suīrán...dànshì...)`. `力气不小 (lìqi bù xiǎo)` is a common way to say someone is surprisingly strong.
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   他花了很多**力气**才把中文学好。
    *   Pinyin: Tā huāle hěn duō **lìqi** cái bǎ Zhōngwén xué hǎo.
    *   English: He spent a lot of effort to learn Chinese well.
    *   Analysis: While **力气** is mostly physical, it can be used metaphorically for "effort," especially with the verb `花 (huā)`, meaning "to spend." This usage is similar to `精力 (jīnglì)` but is still very common.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The biggest mistake English speakers make is using **力气 (lìqi)** for non-physical types of "strength." It's a false friend because its scope is much narrower than the English word.
**Incorrect:** `//She has great mental strength.//` -> `她有很大的精神**力气**。 (Tā yǒu hěn dà de jīngshén **lìqi**.)`
**Why it's wrong:** This is a direct, word-for-word translation that makes no sense in Chinese. **力气** is physical. You cannot have "mental physical-strength."
**Correct:** `她很**坚强**。 (Tā hěn **jiānqiáng**.)` or `她的意志力很强。 (Tā de yìzhìlì hěn qiáng.)`
**How to Choose the Right Word for "Strength":**
  *   For physical, muscular strength: Use **力气 (lìqi)**. (e.g., lifting weights)
  *   For stamina or physical endurance: Use `[[体力]] (tǐlì)`. (e.g., running a marathon)
  *   For mental/physical energy and vigor (for work/study): Use `[[精力]] (jīnglì)`. (e.g., pulling an all-nighter to study)
  *   For abstract power, force, or influence: Use `[[力量]] (lìliàng)`. (e.g., the power of the people, the force of nature)
  *   For being "strong" as a person (resilient, tough): Use the adjective `[[坚强]] (jiānqiáng)`.
  *   For being "powerful" or "mighty": Use the adjective `[[强大]] (qiángdà)`. (e.g., a powerful country)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   `[[力量]] (lìliàng)` - A broader, more abstract term for "power" or "force." While it can include physical strength, it also covers social, natural, or political power. **力气** is a type of **力量**.
  *   `[[体力]] (tǐlì)` - "Stamina" or "physical endurance." This is about sustained energy over time, whereas **力气** can be about a short burst of maximum strength.
  *   `[[精力]] (jīnglì)` - "Energy," "vigor." This refers to your overall energy level for life and tasks, combining both mental focus and physical vitality. You need **精力** to work or study effectively.
  *   `[[坚强]] (jiānqiáng)` - (Adjective) "Strong," "tough," "resilient." Used to describe a person's character or will, not their muscles.
  *   `[[强大]] (qiángdà)` - (Adjective) "Powerful," "mighty." Used to describe things like countries, companies, or armies, not an individual's bicep strength.
  *   `[[没劲儿]] (méijìnr)` - A colloquial Northern-Chinese term meaning "to have no energy," "listless," or "boring." It's a very common, informal synonym for `没有力气 (méiyǒu lìqi)`.
  *   `[[努力]] (nǔlì)` - (Verb/Adjective) "To strive," "to work hard," "hard-working." This is the general term for applying effort toward any goal, not just physical ones.